Ice Cream in Rome
The Best Ice Cream Parlors in Rome
When you think of ice cream, you think of summer. Right? Let go of that thought, in Rome it's really not important. Even in the Italian winter, you will find that the ice cream parlors in Rome are full of life. The ice cream here belongs to all seasons. No matter how you put it - after walking miles from one site to another, from one store to another with your hands full of bags, after a delicious carbohydrate meal, the sweet and comforting Roman ice cream will suit you in any situation. Here are the ten recommended ice cream parlors in Rome, prepare your stomach.
- Haleli Amid - Romio Team
- June 22, 2022
The prize-winner from Trastevere
Otaleg!
Location: Via di San Cosimato 14/a (Trastvera neighborhood)
Outleg is gelato (ice cream in Italian) in reverse. Not just any gelato, the place boasts the name – ‘ice cream laboratory’. This ice cream parlor keeps picking up awards, and needless to say, it earns them honestly. Along with traditional flavors such as pistachio, coffee and cream, it offers different and special flavors such as Gorgonzola flavored ice cream, Worcestershire sauce and cookies, or Caccio a Pepe flavored ice cream (yes, the pasta sauce) – pecorino and black pepper.
Opening Hours:
Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 – 22:00
Friday and Saturday – 12:00 – 00:00
The natural from the hipster district
Gelato San Lorenzo
Location: Via Tiburtina, 6 (San Lorenzo neighborhood)
San Lorenzo is a young and developing neighborhood, which is within walking distance of Termini. It is packed with artists, excellent bars, students, and of course also unique and kicking cuisine. Right at the entrance to the neighborhood (from the direction of Termini) you will find this excellent simple ice cream parlor, which boasts of the fact that it is 100% natural. Along with amazing flavors like raspberry and basil, pineapple and rosemary, or ginger flavor – the place also offers excellent desserts in a jar, waffles and even crepes.
Opening Hours:
All week 11:00 – 01:00
It has branches all over the world
Grom - GROM
Location: Many branches throughout the city
On the one hand, we wanted to give you the boutique, local ice cream parlors, the ones that grew up in Rome and tell the story of the city through their wonderful flavors. On the other hand, Grom’s ice cream is a thing, so much so – that you can find its branches even if you go to the Czech Republic, China, England or Indonesia. The flavors of the ice creams in Grom change on a monthly basis, when every month they choose their favorite flavor, and it is usually the most equal flavor. In Grom you will find the selected classics, the ones you can’t go wrong with. The icing on the cream, or on the ice cream – all their ice creams are also suitable for celiacs.
Opening Hours:
Varies between branches
A century of ice cream
Giolitti
Location: Via Uffici del Vicario, 40 (near the Pantheon), Viale Oceania, 90 (Aor neighborhood, EUR)
Giolitti has been making hearts happy with ice creams and desserts since 1900. By definition they are generally a cafe, but they are mainly known for their wonderful ice cream. The family business offers cakes, pastries, popsicles and of course – ice creams. Compared to the newer places in Rome, the setting at Giulitti is completely old school – in the positive sense of the word. The furniture is vintage and the lighting is dim, and for a moment you enter the time machine and land in the Rome of a century ago (not much has changed since then, by the way). And the ice cream – oh, the ice cream. The menus are seasonal and change, but the taste always wins.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday – 07:30 – 00:00
Saturday and Sunday – 08:30 – 07:30
120 years of ice cream. Giolitti
Gelateria La Romana
Location: Many branches throughout the city
This great ice cream parlor was actually born in the city of Rimini, in 1947. When entering it you will usually encounter queues, but don’t let that discourage you. The line runs quickly and in any case you know what they say – for good things it’s worth waiting. Alongside classic flavors such as coffee, Amaranth cherries or yogurt, you can also find special flavors such as pink ruby chocolate, salted caramel with pecans, or persimmon. It is customary to add whipped cream to the Roman ice creams, and Bella Romana offers a variety of flavored whipped creams. Our recommendation: Zaviona flavored whipped cream (cream of egg yolks and sugar with an almost divine taste).
Opening hours:
varies between branches
Much more than just ice cream. La Romana
Ice cream show
Gelateria del Teatro
Location: Via dei Coronari 55/56 (Piazza Navona), Lungotevere dei Vallati 25 (near Campo di Fiori).
This excellent ice cream parlor offers only natural and seasonal flavors, with one exception to the rule: they don’t like to see sad children, so they offer strawberry ice cream throughout the seasons. The ice cream that the place produces is sugar-free, and the waffle cups are handmade and include olive oil. With flavors like lavender with white peach, raspberry with sage, and even a flavor of the famous Jewish ricotta cake from the ghetto, the theater’s ice cream parlor easily makes our list, and must make yours as well.
Opening Hours:
Varies between branches
It's easy to miss - but you shouldn't
Gelateria dei Gracchi
Location: many branches throughout the city, the main ones – Via di Ripetta, 261 (Piazza del Popolo)
This ice cream shop is easy to miss, its shop windows are not conducive to telling what is happening inside. It is simple on the outside and delicious on the inside. With several branches throughout Rome – and mainly in its local and non-touristy parts, this Roman chain offers ice creams and granitas that will make you miss Rome years from now. Alongside traditional and fruity flavors such as yogurt, zaviona or honey and nuts, you can also find flavors such as salted peanuts, pistachio with rice milk or chestnuts in rum.
Opening Hours:
Varies between branches
The ice cream parlor that wants to offer something for everyone
La Gourmandise
Location: many branches throughout the city, the main ones – Via di Ripetta, 261 (Piazza del Popolo)
This ice cream parlor is easy to miss; its windows don’t reveal what’s going on inside. It’s simple on the outside and delicious on the inside. With several branches across Rome – and mostly in the local and non-touristy parts – this Roman chain offers gelato and granitas that will have you missing Rome for years. In addition to traditional and fruity flavors such as yogurt, zaviona or honey and nuts, you can also find flavors such as salted peanuts, pistachios with rice milk or chestnuts in rum.
Opening hours:
Varies by industry
The ice cream shop that taught everyone else something
Torcè
Location: Many branches throughout the city
Claudio Torche opened this iconic ice cream parlor in 2003, a third generation of confectionery purveyors in Rome. His grandfather opened a local bakery in 1925 and Claudio follows in his footsteps. This ice cream parlor receives a place of honor in the history of Roman ice cream and also passes on to those who would later open other ice cream parlors, such as Outleg and Pate Morgana, also featured in this guide. The list of flavors in Torcha is endless and almost all of them are lactose-free. In it you will find flavors such as the famous celery flavor of the place, the habanero pepper or black sesame. Worry no more because you can also find “normal” and wonderful flavors on the list. Is it worth coming? Must come.
Opening hours:
Varies by industry
Both in summer and in winter. Torcè
Ice cream from the legends
Fatamorgana
Location: Many branches throughout the city
This ice cream shop is owned by a woman, the flavors are prepared by Maria Agnese – and she does it so, so well. Some of the ice cream flavors in town are named after popular fairy tale characters, such as Snow White (vanilla, apple pieces and raspberry sauce) or Pinocchio (vanilla, pear and lemon cake). They also have a crazy selection of cakes and even ice sushi – round and small desserts filled with ice cream and sweetness.
Opening hours:
Varies by industry
Ice sushi. Fatamorgana
What will we say and what will be said? These words are written with ice cream in hand and sweet dreams about the ice cream parlors in the guidebook. The city of a million flavors offers the best ice cream in the world. Italians may be conservative when it comes to pizza and pasta, but when it comes to ice cream, the sky is the limit. So go ahead, hesitate, ask to taste with a spoon – that’s completely acceptable. If you take a selfie with your iceberg to send to the people of Israel and make them blow their eyes out – don’t forget to send it to us too.
